Annual Conference sessions
Browse all conference sessions since 2010
Science ♥ society
2019
"The blob: a genius without a brain".
2019
"Mathematics as Material Play"
Equity & Inclusion
2019
A blindfolded experience to grasp visual accessibility requirements.
Business & fundraising
2019
The session explores different models for financing our institutions and tackling the biggest challenges we face in the search for a diversified and balanced model.
Strategy & vision
2019
The Supreme Court of the Ecsite Conference will decide whether virtual reality (VR) in museums and science centres is visceral reality providing vital reactions, or just virtually rudimentary and very rubbish.
Research, theory & evaluation
2018
James Beacham is a particle physicist involved in the ATLAS experiment at CERN. Watch a video of his keynote.
Science ♥ society
2018
“Go forth and collide, Multiply and create” is the motto of our Science Assembly. Inspired by religious revival meetings, we will offer you songs, laughter, inspiration, and meaning.
Exhibit development
2018
Are you facilitating creative team processes? Tired of always using the same old tricks? Interested in the wider potential of creative techniques? This session is for you.
Strategy & vision
2018
What is the future of science centre exhibitions? Do we need to stick to scientific phenomena, or focus on high tech and current science? Do we concentrate on objects or interaction? Or are physical exhibitions becoming obsolete in the digital era?
Research, theory & evaluation
2017
Professor Alice Roberts is an anthropologist, author and broadcaster, and Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. Watch a video of her keynote.
Science ♥ society
2017
Nina Simon has been described as a “museum visionary” by Smithsonian Magazine for her audience-centred approach to design. Watch a video of her keynote.
Research, theory & evaluation
2016
Dr. Frans de Waal is a Dutch-American biologist and primatologist known for his work on the behaviour and social cognition of primates. Speech title: Prosocial Primates: The Cooperative Background of Our Species
Equity & Inclusion
2016
Dr. Elizabeth Rasekoala is the President of African Gong – the Pan-African Network for the Popularisation of Science & Technology, and Science Communication. Watch a video of her keynote.
2015
Andrea Illy is the Chairman and CEO of illycaffè S.p.A., a family coffee business founded more than 80 years ago. Watch his speech on Ecsite's YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2014
Professor Ian Goldin is Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professor of Globalisation and Development at Oxford University. He delivered a speech entitled "Individual and Collective Wisdom and Failure".
Science ♥ society
2014
Ahmet Üzümcü is the Director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2013.
Strategy & vision
2013
Dominique Pestre is a social and political historian.Hos speech was entitled "What kind of innovation for the Anthropocene?". Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2013
Susan Greenfield is a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford and delivered a speech entitled “ The neuroscience of creativity – Making the most of 21st century technology”. Watch the keynote on the Ecsite YouTube channel.
Strategy & vision
2012
Martin Rees, Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge, gave a speech entitled "Space exploration, life and the cosmos".
Strategy & vision
2012
Carlo Ratti, Professor at the MIT, gave a talk entitled "Future Cities - The real-time city is now real!"
Science ♥ society
2011
Derrick de Kerckhove, Professor at the Department of French and former Director of the McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology at the University of Toronto, gave a speech entitled "Navigating among the shoals and reefs of social, state and business controls in science and technology".
Strategy & vision
2011
Michael Jones Chief Technology Advocate, Google, gave a speech entitled "The Billionth Visitor".
The first Ecsite Conference took place in 1989. Here you can browse all Conference sessions since 2010. Use the search engine to look for people, topics...
Looking for an older session? Our digital records start in 2007, with programme pdfs attached to each conference page.
Explainers & visitor services
The sheer number of science shows performed at science centres can lead to lower quality presentations. There are several reasons for this, for example routine performances, performers who lack skills as well as too little time for quality...
Marketing & communication
In this session, speakers from institutions that excel in fundraising will explain how they achieve their goals and take part in an open discussion about future directions. This session is aimed at fundraising for smaller and mid-sized...
The Project Buffet is an open poster session organized by Ecsite to enable conference participatns to present their collaborative, not-for-profit projects. Session participants are invited to put up their poster at the beginning of the conference...
Science centres and museums experience increased pressure during times of financial cuts and growing competition for public support and fundraising. Additionally, rising operational costs and the need to invest capital funds in renewal and...
Participation is an increasing focus among science centres and museums. If once it was mainly connected to visitors’ points of view and opinions on ‘hot topics’ and their dialogue with scientists and experts, today’s participation is more varied...
The process of designing interactive exhibits requires open-minded thinking and plenty of creativity. After its launch, the exhibition should be evaluated and a discussion of lessons learned should take place. The ideal method of reviewing a...
The production of contemporary scientific knowledge is changing, it is more influenced by factors and actors outside specific disciplines and more embedded in society; or, at least, many people work to engage new voices in science. Post-academic...
Panelists will present their own digital platforms and open source projects to show how digital resources can be used by science centres and museums to reach across cultural and institutional borders and build connections with onsite and online...
“Understanding”, “engagement”, “participation” – these are common words associated with citizen involvement in science and technology issues. An increasing number of debates, consultation processes and conferences address science in society...
Science centres can be gathering places where people contribute to the design of a future society. Visitors can be asked to exercise their creativity to shape a world in which they would like to live and express views on future scenarios that...
How can science centres compete in a world where information is so readily available from many different directions? Can we structure our exhibitions in a non-linear way and use mediation tools to successfully capture and captivate 21st century...
Volunteer contributions to science centre activities are more important than ever. The worldwide economic crisis has led to funding cuts in areas related to culture and scientific research. As a result, many special activities or programmes are...
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